After an unseasonably warm winter, many gardens and yards around
the country are growing and blossoming well ahead of schedule. Outdoor
enthusiasts who are also pet owners are delighted with the early onset of
spring, enjoying their outdoor living spaces while watching their pets run and
play.
The veterinary and toxicology experts at
Pet Poison Helpline would like to keep pets safe this spring and summer by
informing pet owners of potentially harmful substances, flowers and plants that
are dangerous to dogs and cats. “Many of the calls that we receive at Pet
Poison Helpline this time of year involve pet ingestions of yard and garden
products that may have harmful chemicals or ingredients,” said Ahna Brutlag,
DVM, MS, assistant director at Pet Poison Helpline. “Additional yard-related
emergencies involve pets that have dug into and ingested the contents of
compost piles, or consumed various plants and flowers that can be poisonous.”
Some of the most common potentially harmful dangers for pets that reside in
many yards and gardens are listed below.
Mulch Products
Cocoa bean mulch is made of discarded
hulls or shells of the cocoa bean, which are by-products of chocolate
production. The tempting “chocolate-like” smell often attracts dogs and may
encourage them to eat the mulch. Processed cocoa bean hulls can contain
theobromine and caffeine, the two toxins of concern in chocolate.
Unfortunately, determining the amount of toxins in mulch can be difficult as it
varies greatly from product to product. Many varieties contain very low amounts
of the toxins and are not as dangerous as dog owners are often led to believe;
however, varieties with higher toxin concentrations can cause vomiting,
diarrhea, hyperactivity, an abnormal heart rhythm, seizures and in extreme
cases, death. Since it is not usually apparent how much of the toxin the mulch
contains, it’s best to keep dogs a safe distance away, to always supervise your
pet while outside, or to not use the mulch at all.
Fertilizers, Soil Additives and Pesticides
While fertilizers are typically fairly
safe for pets, those that contain blood meal, bone meal, feather meal and iron
may be especially tasty – and dangerous to dogs. Large ingestions of the
meal-containing products can form a concretion in the stomach, potentially
obstructing the gastrointestinal tract and causing severe pancreatitis, and
those that contain iron may result in iron poisoning. Also, ingestion of
pesticides and insecticides, especially if they contain organophosphates (often
found in systemic rose care products), can be life-threatening, even when
ingested in small amounts. Slug and Snail Baits Available in a variety of forms
(pellets, granular, powder and liquid), slug and snail baits contain the active
ingredient metaldehyde, which is highly poisonous to dogs and cats. When
ingested, metaldehyde produces clinical signs of distress within one to two
hours, including salivation, restlessness, vomiting, tremors, seizures, and
life-threateningly high body temperature. These baits are highly toxic and
without immediate veterinary attention, symptoms can last for several days and
can be fatal. Compost Gardeners love their compost; however, it can be toxic to
pets and wildlife so please keep it fenced off. As the organic matter
decomposes, it is common for molds to grow, some of which produce hazardous
tremorgenic mycotoxins. When consumed by an animal, moldy food or compost
ingestion can result in sickness and physical distress in as little as 30
minutes. Symptoms include agitation, panting, drooling, vomiting, tremors and
seizures. Prompt veterinary treatment with appropriate supportive care usually
results in a good prognosis.
Flowers and Plants
Some of the most dangerous spring and summertime
threats to pets in the yard are common flowers and plants. Sago Palm: Popular
in warmer climates, this outdoor and indoor plant can be extremely harmful to
pets. All parts of the plant, including the fronds/leaves, nuts and seeds are
especially poisonous to dogs. Ingesting even a small amount can cause severe
vomiting, bloody stools, damage to the stomach lining, severe liver failure
and, in some cases, death. This plant is considered one of the most deadly in
dogs and long-term survival is poor; only 50% of dogs who ingest is often
survive this dangerous plant, even with veterinary treatment. Without
treatment, sago palm poisoning can result in severe, irreversible liver
failure. Prompt treatment is always needed for the best prognosis. Lily of the
Valley: An early springtime favorite, the Lily of the Valley (Convallaria
majalis) contains cardiac glycosides, which are also used in many human heart
medications. When eaten by dogs or cats, this common perennial can cause
vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias, and
possibly seizures. Any pet with a known exposure should be examined and
evaluated by a veterinarian and treated symptomatically.
Crocuses: There are two types of crocus
plants: one blooms in the spring and the other in the fall. The spring plants
(Crocus spp.) are more common and cause only gastrointestinal upset accompanied
by vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats. However, the fall crocus (Meadow
Saffron or Colchicum autumnale) is highly toxic and can cause severe vomiting,
gastrointestinal bleeding, and multisystem organ failure with bone marrow
suppression. Symptoms may be seen immediately but can be delayed for days. If
you witness your pet eating a crocus and you are not sure what variety it is,
seek veterinary care immediately.
Lilies: Cat owners beware of lilies! While
some types, such as the Peace (Spathiphyllum spp.), Peruvian (Alstroemeria
spp.) and Calla (Zantedeschia spp.), cause only minor symptoms when eaten,
other varieties of the true lily family (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) are
deadly and highly toxic to cats, including Tiger, Asiatic, Easter, Japanese
Show and Day lilies. Ingesting very small amounts – eating as little as two
petals or leaves, orexposure to the pollen – can result in severe kidney
failure. Even the water in a vase containing true lilies is considered highly
poisonous, as the toxin in the plant is water-soluble. If a cat consumes any
part of these lilies, he or she needs immediate veterinary care to prevent
kidney failure.
Pet Poison Helpline’s new iPhone
application contains an extensive database of plants, chemicals, foods and
drugs that are poisonous to pets. Always available with or without Internet
access or cell phone service, the iPhone app has full-color photos for
identifying poisonous plants, and a powerful indexing feature that allows users
to search for toxins, cross-referencing them by common and scientific terms.
For emergencies, it has a direct dial feature to the veterinary experts at Pet
Poison Helpline. Called Pet Poison Help, the iPhone app costs $0.99 and is
available on iTunes. More information is available here.
While enjoying the beautiful gardens and
flowers this spring and summer, have the knowledge to keep your pets safe. If,
however, you think a pet may have ingested something harmful, take action
immediately. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at
1-800-213-6680. Pet Poison Helpline is the most cost-effective animal poison
control center in North America charging only $39 per call, including unlimited
follow-up consultations.
Source:
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/2012/05/protecting-pets-from-poisons-in-the-yard-and-garden/
Published on May 7, 2012
